Leila POV:
Ash was positively beaming as I dressed him in his little coronation outfit. The soft golden threads of the tunic complented his bright, curious eyes, and he kept fidgeting with the sash that was just slightly too big for him.
"Mommy," he asked, tilting his head, "Are there really any crown for too? Like a real one? How big is it? Bigger than Uncle’s Chase?"
I chuckled, smoothing down his hair. "Yes, baby, there’s a crown for you. And no, it’s not bigger than Uncle’s Chase, but it’s shiny and perfect just for you."
Ash’s grin widened. "I can’t wait to wear it! Will it make a king too?"
"You’ll always be my little prince," I replied, tapping his nose, earning a giggle.
Before leaving the chambers, I knelt down and held his shoulders gently. "Now, stay here and wait for , okay? No running off. You know the rules."
"Yes, Mommy," he said with a serious nod, though the playful sparkle in his eyes made suspicious.
"Promise ."
"I promise," he replied, his tone more solemn.
Satisfied, I kissed his forehead and left the room to finalize so last-minute arrangents. I was only gone for a short while, maybe ten minutes at most, but when I returned, Ash wasn’t where I had left him.
"Ash?" I called, scanning the room.
No response. My first thought was that he was playing one of his cheeky gas. He loved hide-and-seek, especially when he thought he could surprise . Smiling despite myself, I began looking behind curtains and under furniture.
"Ash," I called again, a little louder. "This isn’t funny, baby. Co out now."
The silence that followed sent a chill up my spine.
I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, trying to catch his scent, but sothing was wrong. His scent was faint—too faint—as if he wasn’t in the room at all. Panic started to rise.
"No," I muttered to myself, shaking my head. "That’s impossible. He knows better than to leave the chambers."
I called for him again, louder this ti, but still no response. My heart began to pound as I reached out through the mother-child bond we shared, expecting to feel the comforting presence of his young mind. Instead, I was t with... nothing.
It was like a line had been severed or blocked.
"Ash!" I shouted, now frantically pulling open doors, searching every nook and cranny. The thought of him being truly gone clawed at my chest, and I stumbled out into the hallway.
Guards stationed outside looked at , alard by my distress. "Your Highness? Is everything alright?"
"No, it’s not! My son—he’s missing. Find him. Now!"
I didn’t wait to see them spring into action. I was already running, my wolf instincts taking over. I checked every corridor, every possible place he could have wandered to, but there was no sign of him. I kept trying to reach him through the bond, calling out with every ounce of my being, but the connection remained eerily silent.
I burst into Chase’s chambers, my breath ragged. "Chase, I can’t find Ash!"
His head snapped up, his face a mix of concern and urgency. "What do you an you can’t find him?"
"I an he’s gone!" I yelled, my voice cracking. "I’ve searched everywhere, and I can’t even scent him! It’s like he’s... he’s not here!"
Chase didn’t waste a second. "Guards!" he roared, his voice carrying through the halls. Within monts, the room was filled with guards awaiting his orders.
"Search the entire castle," he commanded. "Every room, every hall, every hidden passage. I want the little boy found!"
The guards scattered, and Chase turned back to . "We’ll find him," he said firmly, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
But I couldn’t stay still. "I’m checking the chambers again," I said, my voice trembling. "Maybe I missed sothing."
Chase nodded, his expression grim. "We’ll cover more ground if we split up."
I ran back to the chambers, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios. This couldn’t be happening. Not to my son.
I tore through the room again, searching every corner, every crevice, until my eyes fell on sothing I hadn’t noticed before—a folded piece of parchnt lying on top of the gown I had planned to wear for the coronation. My hands trembled as I picked it up, dread pooling in my stomach.
The note was brief but enough to shatter .
We have the boy. Co alone if you want him back at 356 Avenue Carl street deserted house. Any sign of others, and he dies.
Rage like I had never felt before coursed through , burning away the fear and replacing it with a single, savage thought: whoever had taken my son would not live to regret it.
I grabbed a piece of paper and scribbled a quick note to Chase:
Chase,
I can’t wait. He’s my son, and I need to bring him back. Don’t follow . I know who took him, and I know how to end this. If Ace thinks he can hurt my boy, he’s wrong. I’ll make sure he regrets it.
Leila.
I left the note on the bed and grabbed a cloak, my mind already formulating a plan. I didn’t care what it took. I would get Ash back, and I would make Ace pay in the most grueso way imaginable.
The halls blurred as I sprinted out of the castle, my wolf instincts sharpening my senses. I didn’t stop to think, didn’t hesitate. The only thing that mattered was my son.
Ace had made a critical mistake in targeting Ash. He had underestimated the lengths a mother would go to protect her child.
And now, he was going to learn what happens when you ss with a wolf’s cub.
The kingdom was sprawling and grand, with its towering spires and intricate architecture, but it was foreign to . My wolf prowled close to the surface, urging to run faster, to find Ash, but the practical side of knew that charging blindly would get nowhere. I clutched the note in my hand tightly, the address—356 Avenue Carl Street—burned into my mory.
The problem? I had no idea where it was.
For the first ti since my mating to Chase, I was venturing out into the vampire kingdom alone. The streets buzzed with activity despite the air of mourning that hung over the castle. Vampires passed by in elegant attire, their crimson eyes darting toward . So whispered, others pointed discreetly.
The rumors had clearly spread. The crown prince’s mate was a wolf.
I didn’t care about the stares or the hushed murmurs. What I cared about was the little boy who needed , who was sowhere out there, probably scared and wondering why I wasn’t with him.
The scent of curiosity, fear, and a hint of awe from the vampires around was unmistakable. So looked at with intrigue, while others quickly stepped aside, their expressions wary. My wolf aura was unmistakable, and I wasn’t trying to hide it.
A group of teenagers caught my eye. They were playing a ga of so sort in a nearby alley, their laughter echoing in the narrow space. I hesitated, then approached them cautiously.
"Excuse ," I said, my voice firm but not unkind.
The teens stopped mid-play, their eyes widening as they looked up and down. One of the bolder ones, a girl with short black hair, stepped forward. "You’re her, aren’t you? The wolf the prince mated to?"
I nodded, offering a small smile despite the urgency burning inside . "Yes, that’s . Listen, I need your help."
They exchanged nervous glances. "What kind of help?" the girl asked.
"I’m looking for an address—356 Avenue Carl Street. Do you know where that is?"
The group fell silent, their playful deanor vanishing. A boy with ssy blonde hair spoke up after a pause. "You’re going there?" he asked, skepticism lacing his tone.
"Yes." My voice was steel.
"It’s... on the outskirts of the kingdom," he said, pointing hesitantly. "Follow that road until it ends, then take the left path. It’ll lead you to the old district. That’s where you’ll find it."
The girl chid in, her voice uncertain. "But... it’s not a safe place. Are you sure you want to go there?"
I smiled softly, though it didn’t reach my eyes. "Thank you for your concern, but I’ll be fine."
One of the younger boys piped up, his voice bright. "You’re really beautiful, you know!"
I couldn’t help but chuckle despite the weight in my heart. "Thank you," I said. "And thank you for the directions."
As I turned and walked away, I felt their eyes on , a mix of admiration and unease. They were right to feel uneasy. The path ahead wasn’t going to be safe, but safety wasn’t my priority.
The further I walked, the more the kingdom’s grandeur gave way to desolation. The well-maintained streets turned into cracked cobblestones, and the ornate buildings faded into abandoned, crumbling structures. The scent of decay and neglect hung heavy in the air.
When I finally reached the outskirts and saw the faint outline of 356 Avenue Carl Street, I understood why the teens had hesitated to guide here. The place was desolate, with an air of foreboding that sent a shiver down my spine.
But I didn’t stop.
Ash’s face filled my mind—his bright smile, his innocent questions about crowns and kingship. My wolf growled low, spurred on by the thought of him being sowhere inside that place, afraid or hurt.
I pushed forward, my senses sharp and my resolve unshakable. Whoever had dared to take my son had chosen the wrong pup to ss with.
This place might have looked like it belonged to the ghosts of the past, but if they thought they could haunt , they were sorely mistaken.
I was coming for Ash, and heaven help anyone who stood in my way.
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